G/AG/GEN/183  
 
16 March 2021  
(21-2167) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English  
 
 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENT TO THE 97TH WTO REGULAR MEETING  
OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE  
"COVID -19 AND AGRICULTURE"  
Submission by the World Food Programme (WFP)  
The following submission, dated 15 March  2021, is being circulated at the request of the World Food 
Programme (WFP).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  A GRIM FOOD SECURITY OUTLOOK FOR 2021  
1.1.  The year 2020 has been like no other.  At the launch of the 2021 Global Humanitarian Overview, 
the UN Secretary -General said: "the convergence of conflict, c limate change and COVID -19 have 
created the greatest humanitarian challenge since the Second World War ".1 
1.2.  In 2020, WFP had to adjust its operations to provide food assistance to an unprecedented 
114 million people. Furthermore, as commercial airlines were grounding their fleet, WFP stepped up 
its service delivery capacity to ensure transport of humanitarian personnel and health equipment 
worldwide.  
1.3.  Unfortunately, the outlook for 2021 is even more concerning. Global humanitarian needs have 
dramatically increased, from USD 28.8 billion at the beginning of 2020 to the record high level 
of USD 35.8 billion for 2021.2 
1.4.  WFP estimates that up to 270 million people are acutely food insecure or at high risk. While 
the next Global Report on Food Crises w ill be launched in April 2021 by the Global Network Against 
Food Crises, we are already aware of a dramatic deterioration of the food security of hundreds of 
million people. As we speak, 174 million people are confronted with acute food insecurity across 
58 countries.3 Of absolute urgent concern are more than 34 million people who are already facing 
famine -like conditions.4 Equally concerning is the rise in the number of persons displaced within and 
across international borders while fleeing conflict, persecution, violence or human rights violations.  
1.5.  While the humanitarian system is confronted with enormous needs, the operating environment 
is becoming more complex. According to FAO, over the past nine months, world food prices have 
continued t o rise and the Food Price Index has reached its highest level since July 2014.5 Although 
food prices remain below the peaks witnessed in 2008 and 2011, WFP is concerned about the impact 
this trend will have on vulnerable people.  
 
1 https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020 -12-01/secretary -generals -video -message -
launch -the-2021-global-humanitarian -overview . 
2 https://www.unocha.org/global -humanitarian -overview -2021. 
3 WFP-FAO Call for Action to Avert Famine in 2021, https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP -
0000124839/download/ . 
4 WFP Global Operational Response Plan 2021, Update #1, February 2021 
https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/56313869c89d4fec935bc41629c8ff5f/download/  and 
https://www.wfp.org/news/wfp -chief-calls-urgent -funds -avert-famine . 
5 http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ . G/AG/GEN/183  
 
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  2  WHAT CAN WTO DO TO SUPPORT  THE MOST VULNERABLE?  
2.1.  Given such complex humanitarian context, it is crucial to ensure the smooth functioning of the 
food supply chains thus to efficiently channel humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable. Any 
disruption – including export quotas, pr ohibitions or restrictions – will unavoidably increase costs, 
reduce the volume of food assistance, hamper assistance 's timelines, with dramatic consequences 
for the millions of people whose lives depend on the humanitarian assistance.  
2.2.  Unfortunately, cases  of export restrictions and/or quotas continue to occur. Despite being 
confined geographically and limited in time, they nevertheless reduce the effectiveness and the 
efficiency of the food assistance, leading to the cancellation of contracts and higher pr ices (up 
to 15% in the most recent cases).  
2.3.  The World Trade Organization (WTO) has a key role to play in supporting WFP 's work to 
alleviate hunger and reduce malnutrition among the world 's most vulnerable populations, especially 
during the COVID -19 pandemic . 
2.4.  WFP would like to thank and commend the WTO Member s that in January 2021 voluntarily 
issued the  Joint Statement on Agriculture Export Prohibitions or Restrictions Relating of The World 
Food Programme , as promoted by the delegation of Singapore.6 
2.5.  WFP also welcomes WTO new Director General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala 's call for a reduction in 
export restrictions and prohibitions, including for WFP humanitarian purchases, during the Spec ial 
Session of the WTO General Council in February 2021.7  
2.6.  The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 "Zero hunger " calls for an end to trade restrictions 
and distortions in the world agricultural markets. Given the major humanitarian challenges in 2021 
and the collective commitment to achieve the SDGs by 2030, any measure taken by the 
WTO Member s to facilitate the smo oth movement of goods for humanitarian purposes will help 
saving lives.  
 
 
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6 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/agri_21jan21_e.ht m. 
7 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news21_e/dgno_15feb21_e.pdf .